Child support payments are neither deductible by the payer nor taxable to the recipient. When calculating gross income to see if you’re required to file a tax return, don’t include child support payments received.

Under divorce, dissolution, or separation instruments executed on or before December 31, 2018, alimony or spousal maintenance payments are deductible by the payer and taxable to the recipient. When calculating gross income to see if you’re required to file a tax return, you should include alimony payments received under such an instrument.

However, under divorce, dissolution, or separation instruments executed after December 31, 2018, and under certain instruments executed on or before December 31, 2018 but later modified, if the modification expressly states the repeal of the deduction for alimony or spousal maintenance applies to the modification, those payments are neither deductible by the payer nor taxable to the recipient. When you calculating gross income to see if you’re required to file a tax return, don’t include alimony or spousal maintenance payments received under such an instrument.

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